Wire straightener



, P 1951 R. D. HELLER WIRE STRAIGHTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7,1946 III/A 7 Imventor RICHARD D. HELLER Sept. 11, 1951 R. D. HELLER2,567,770

WIRE STRAIGHTENER Filed Sept. 7, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittornegs Sept.11, 1951 R. D. HELLER WIRE STRAIGHTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 7,1946 311ventor RICHARD D. HELLER Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATESENT OFF ICE WIRE STRAIGHT ENER'.

Richard D. Heller, Tujunga, Calif.

I Application-September '7, 1946, Serial 'No.-695497- 30 Claims. 1.

Theipresent'in'vention concerns a wire straightener and is primarilyd'esigned'for straightening wires-or"rods-. of larger. diameter orgauge, and consequent inherent stiffness, as distinguished from the'wire straightener of the type disclosed in m'y' cop'ending'x applicationSerial No. 668,789, filedii Ma 10;. 1946, now" Patent No. 2,462,396,issued Februaryzz; 1949,. which is primarily designed for smallerwires;

All-wire, as it is' manufactured; is wound in c'oils about a reel;swiftorth'e like. Thereby it acquires a permanent set, and tends toremain in coiled fo'rmwh'en removed or'unwound from the reel. Themolecules of the metal within the wire tend to'r'et'ain theirdisposition relative to all" other molecules therein; Since it.- isundesirable -in most manufacturing processes or products using suchWires to permit this set to remain in the" wire, it" is customary toemploy wire straighteners; acting upon the wire as it is untheimperfectly straightened wire may often I causemore' difli'culti'es' inits subsequent handling tlian -if it" were left with its nearly uniforminitial set- Most wire straighteners heretofore available; with theexception of that of my companion application, have" required tedious,careful, and multiple individualand relative adjustments of alargenumber of'bending elements, which could be'done properly only by workmenof considerable skill and experience. One of the objects-of the presentinvention is-to simplify the straightening operation; and to enable itsaccomplishment quickly, easily, and'with a minimum of skill andexperience.

Gne reason for distinguishing between wires on the basis: of: theirsize, andfor employing for larger-wires astraightener different-from theone ofmy companionapplication, which is designed for straighteningprimarily smaller wires, lies in the tendencyof a-stifi-wire to resiststraightening to such. an extent that it tends to rotate on its ownaxis,.if"any' counterbending force is applied to. it. directed-orintended to be directedprecisely" oppositely to its coil set. It isvirtually impossible to' guide a stiff", uncoiling strand, as it'runsrapidly overrolls or the like, so accurately 2'; that the plane ofitscoil will not tend to tilt underthe influence of such acounterbending force to-oneside or the other of the plane defined bythe-strand-s"path-andthe direction of the counterbending force; generallthe stiff strand will tilt nowto" one side; noW-"to the opposite side-ofsuch. plane, if-the counterbending force be'applied directly oppositelyto the:coil plane. If a reliable way of'securing; the strand againsttorsional-rotation under suchconditions could be found,there.--wouldbe-1ess* need of avoiding direct-counterbending; but in.=the absence of. such torsion-resisting; means itseems necessary toapply" counterbending: forces firstfrom:- one side of the: coil plane;thus assuring that all tilting tendency is uniform: and to acommonsideof the: initial" coil plane; and immediately thereafter toapplyanother counterbending. force from the opposite side of the initial coilplane, thus assurin'gr'that its, tiltingtendency= is uniform and alltothe opposite'side of-=the initial-coil plane, thus neutralizingthetorsional rotational tendency of the-first counterbend. The value ofeach counterbendingforce complements that ofthe other, and the sumoftheir eifects-both being generallyoppposite' to the initial coil'set,though directed from opposite sides of the coil plane-is substantialneutralization"of-the'coil set. Anothercooperative-effectis-their-tendency to cradle the strand, each resistingor neutralizing any tendency of theothertotiltr or to rotatethe strandabout itsown axis, and. thus combining to hold iteffectively againstrotation when, in a subsequent counterbending operation, any.residual'set isremoved.

It is anobject, therefore, to effect counterbendingby a method and meanswherein, by

relating thev direction-of counterbending forces to theplane of.- theinitial coil set; torsional rotationof -the. strand is minimized, anduniformity of results are assured, particularly when dealing with largeor stiff "wire.

A further reason why the size and stiffness of the wireintroducesproblems not involved in the machine and operations" of mypatent referred to above, liesiin'th'e n'atureof the straighteningoperation. Straightening'is a rearrangement of the internal molecularrelationships. If the wire is} small and" thin itbendseasily; and evenwhen the bend for straightening is directly opposite the initial set theinternal stresses are small; moreover, if the wire is weakened somewhatthereby, being small it was not initially strong, and the weakening isinconsequential. With a larger wire the internal stresses caused bydirect counterbending are quite appreciable; the more nearly directlyopposite are such counterbends to the initial set the more violent andweakening is the rearrangement of the molecules caused thereby. Directcounterbending tends, as it were, to break the back of the wire. Sincelarger wires are employed, usually, because strength is required, anysuch weakening becomes much more serious than in smaller wires.

Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to effect thestraightening of wires, particularly larger wires, which while effectivewill not to any serious degree lessen the strength of the wire, in thatthe counterbending is directed obliquely, not directly oppositely, withrelation to the initial set.

A still further reason for distinguishing between wires on the basis oftheir size, in straightening operations, concerns the ability to threadthem through the straightener. Small, flexible wires can be threadedthrough small passages and an intricate or sinuous pathway, but largerwires, being less flexible and manageable, can not be, at least withoutgreat difficulty and at considerable expense in time. A further objectof the present invention, adapting it for use with larger wires, is toprovide a wire path which is open and accessible to the maximum degree,and also, one which can readily be opened widely, to facilitatethreading through or similar engagement therewith of larger wires.

The counterbending forces applied to smaller and more flexible wiresneed not be individually large, and particularly so if they areaggregated with other such forces by repeated bends back and forth.Larger wires can not be bent thus repeatedly, for this has a tendency toanneal them, and thus would seriously weaken them, hence a still furtherobject of this invention is to effect the straightening by employing aminimum number of bends, each gradual, and without repeated reversals fthe bend in the wire, but to do this by devices capable of applying asufiicient force, and adjustable readily to apply just the correctamount of force, and in just the correct directions, to the wire as itis pulled through the straightener.

More specifically, and in association with a previously expressedobject, it is a further object of the present invention to effect thebending by at least two relatively angularly disposed primary bendingdevices, disposed at opposite acute angles to the plane of the initialcoil set, and, to the degree that rotation is not otherwise preventable,disposed also substantially equiangularly at opposite sides of the coilsplane, and, as one way to minimize the tendency of the wire to rotateone way or another about its own axis by forces generated by suchprimary bending devices, it is a further object to provide devices,preferably in the same form and similarly directed as the primarybending devices, but less forcefully applied, which will resist suchtorsional rotation of the strand, so that it may be delivered, after itspassage through the bending device, substantially straight and free fromset or bend.

However, since it will often prove difficult to accomplish this latterend without extremely careful individual adjustments, which it isdesirable to avoid, it is a further object to provide, in conjunctionwith the Wire straightener, a final bank which is (or in some casesseparate bending and torsion-resisting banks which are) rotatablyadjustable about the axis of the strand to any desired angular position,and so arranged or individually adjustable as to apply just the amountof force, and in just the proper direction or plane, to effect the finalcorrective straightening to overcome any residual set after the wire haspassed through the main traightener, or to effect the bending mostadvantageously, with minimum need for a corrective straightener.

It is also an object to provide in such a straightener a number of banksof wire guiding and bending devices, angularly disposed about thecentral strand path, and to provide in such banks adjusting means, bothsuch as are individual to the several banks, and also which are commonto all banks, excepting, possibly, the final corrective bank.

It is an object in each bank to employ a simple arrangement, preferablyof rolls, through which the wire can be very readily threaded, sincemost of them lie at one side of the strand, and further in connectionwith such a set of rolls it is an object to arrange them in such a way,and of such sizes, as will accomplish the desired bending by a series ofgradual bends, all in one direction, with only a single abrupt orsemiabrupt reversal of the strand, rather than a plurality of reversalsor repeated counterbends.

It is also an object in such a wire bending bank to provide meansreadily adjustable to vary the degree or abruptness of the bends in thestrand.

Finally, it is an object in general to provide a 7 wire straightener ofsimple construction, rugged,

' and thoroughly reliable, the principles whereof are adapted not onlyto use with wires of large gauge, but which can be used with wires ofany gauge.

Various other objects, more particularly such as relate to themechanical structure of the device and of its various parts, and theircombination and arrangement relative to one another, and such as relateto the method phases of the present invention, will be betterascertained as this specification progresses.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied in a formsuch as is presently preferred by me, although it will be understoodthat various changes may be made in the form, character, and relativearrangement of the parts within the scope of the claims as hereinafterset forth, and indeed that the method may be practiced by mechanismaltogether different from that herein illustrated.

Figure 1 is a general elevational view of one form of the machine, suchas includes four banks arranged at to one another, and adjustable incommon as well as individually, together with a fifth corrective bankindependently adjustable.

Figure 2 is a transverse section substantially along the line 22 ofFigure 1, and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section substantially along theline 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 3A is a sectional view illustrating a detail of an adjustablymounted element, which is the subject of an optional modification of themachine of the preceding and subsequent figures.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the relationship of the rolls inthe several banks in the the torsion-resisting banks.

aseavvo machineof the type illustrated in Figure Land Figurel5 is acompanion diagrammatic showing, illustrating the actual relative angularrelationship of the banks illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is :a force diagram, looking generally along the central wirepath, illustrating thelforce relationships of the several banks in theformcf the machine shown in Figures 1,2 and '3.

Figure '7 is a general elevational view,'similar toFigure 1, of adifferent form of the machine, and Figure 8- is a view corresponding toFigure-2, and taken on the line 8-3 of Figure '7.

Figure '9 is a diagrammatic view somewhat similar to'Figure 5,illustrating the angular relationship of the banks in the form of,machine shown in- Figures '7 and 8.

Figure isa force diagram similar to Figurejfi, but illustrating therelationship of the banks to each other and to the wire with a machinesuch as is illustrated in gures 7 and 8.

Theiorm of'the'machine which is illustrated ;in,, Fiel1res 1:to6,.inclusive, is composed .of four 'banksof wire guides designated, insuccession as they are reached by thewire strand W being pulled through,by the letters 'A, B. C and D. A fif h bank E is the correctivebankoptionally used for correction-50f any residual set after the strand haspassed through the first four banks. In this form of the machine, thebanks A and B may be considered as the primary bending banks, and thebanks C and D as torsion-resisting banks, the principal purpose of whichis to prevent the strand W from rotating about its .own axis, and by sodoing avoiding proper engagement by the bending rolls of the banks A andB,

All such banks arepreferably constructed substantially alike, althoughthe adjustmentof the bending roll with respect to adjacentrolls may bedifferent in the primary bending banks and in However, a description ofthe structural features of one will suflice for the others, and suchabank is-shown in detail in Figure 3, and to a certain extent in Figure2. Thus a frame 3, with flanged ends 30 adapted for supportingengagement from brackets 9i upstanding from the machinebase 9, isarranged for the support of at least three, and preferably five, groovedrolls. The rolls immediate support may consist of longitudinal flanges31, forming in effect a channel. The rolls referred to, which typify anyconvenient strand guides, comprise terminal rolls I I for leading thestrand into and from each bank,,paired inner rolls IS, and the activebending roll I interposed between the spaced-apart rolls I0.

The arrangement of these rolls relative to one another and to thecentral axis of the machine is of importance. Ehe strands axis isdefined by the terminal rolls II, or more. exactly speaking, by thebottom of the grooves of allthe terminal rolls Ii, which are set inalignment throughout the machine. These terminal rolls I I arepreferably of larger radius than the other rolls, in order that thestrand will not be abruptly bent and its internal molecular relationshipmaterially altered in passing over them. Inv any given bank both suchterminal rolls are atone side of the strand. The inner rolls 10 arelikewise both at the same side of the strand asthe terminal roll-s H,but preferably are of somewhat smaller radius in order to cooperatebetter with the bending roll I interposed between them.. The middle.roll I is mounted at the opposite side of the strand f om the otherrolls of its bank, and is so mounted that it may be moved inwardly "6andoutwardlywbetween the inner rolls 10 to effect greater -or lesserdeflection of the strand in its passage between the two rolls I0. Also,such -.adjustment;permits-opening wide the. space between the rolls Iand It, to facilitate'insertion of the strand into the straightener. Forthe purpose of :so. adjusting the middle roll I, it may be journaledupona lever 2 fulcrumed, for ex- -:,ample,- at: 20 at the axis of, one oftherolls other than the-middle one, and capable of rocking on this axis'by control means, such, for example, as the rod 2 Itor the screw andlock nut 22. Such adjustment may be -afiected within eachindividualbank, as'inthe, form of the machine shown in Figures 7, 18,and-,9, or each rod 2I may be individually adjustable with respect to acommon disc 23, which latter is adjustable for adjustment of all thebanks in common, by the adjusting means indicated at 24 in Figure'l.Nosprings are employed to applya bending force to the strand,butinstead, all forces are'positive and fixed, oncead justedhence mustbe accurate.

The-middle roll I is adjustable by rocking of the lever 2 about the axisof an inner roll II), in

F thelmachine shown, and this affords the most favorable leverage. Thespacing between the rolls I0 is necessarily slight, so that for someoperative positionsof adjustment the roll I may approach too close to or,bespaced too far from the other roll I0. 'Desirably,'the distance fromthe roll I to each of the rolls It should be the same, but if both rollsI0 are fixedly journaled in the flanges 3I,- necessarily such distanceswill not be the same for all adjusted in and out-.-

positions of the roller-I and its lever 2,-but will vary for-each suchadjusted position. In some instances the difference may be immaterial,but .in order toequalize these distances in such cases as make equalitydesirable, theone roller I0 may have its pintle-l3 project at each endthrough longitudinal slots the channels 3| (seeFigure ,3A) ,andadjusting or holding means, typified by the set nuts I4, may pinch andengage such projections to-retai-n them in position lengthwise of theirslot. By'some such means both rollers I. may. be kept'equ-idistant fromthe roller I, whatever theadjusted operative position of thev latter,

It will be clear that'the individual banks are arranged in alignment,withbushings 92 defining apertures through the brackets BI and flanges30 through which the strand W may pass. Considering, in the companionFigures 4 and 5, that the wire strand is to be unreeled from a reel, theplane of .whichis-represented by the loop or coil L, and is .to be drawnin the direction of the arrow F, theflrst ,bank isarranged, as Figures 5and 6 show, in such fashion that the middle roll I deflects the strandmaterially and in part reversely toathe set which the strand hasacquired within-theloop L, "but this deflection in the pri- 7 marybending banks is not in the same plane as ,the plane of theloop or coilL. Indeed, with stiff-wire'such as this machinejis'intended tostraighten, and in the absence of any provision immediately in advanceof the first bank A for preventing rotation oflthe strand about its ownaxis, it'would-in practice be impossible to apply or to maintain acounterbending force at 'thispoint always directly oppositely to thecoil .set inz-thestrand, and always precisely in the coil planethereof.The stiff, bent strand would inevitably rotatenbetween successive rolls,to one side or. to the other .of the direction of the coun-..terbending'force, .or perhaps would rotate now toqone .sideandthen .tothe other side, uncontrollably. Under such conditions, regardless of anydesire or attempt to maintain coincidence between the direction of thecounterbending force and the coil plane, the force would inevitably bein a direction having a component laterally of the coil plane.

It is considered preferable, therefore, to displace the coil planeangularly relative to the direction of the counterbending forceor viceversa-at least sufficiently that the coil will not be able to tilt itsplane to the opposite side of the direction of the force, and thereby toachieve, among other advantages, uniformity of counterbending.Accordingly, the strand guides and the deflecting roll I are so arrangedthat the deflection has a component laterally of the plane of the coil,so that the strand is bent somewhat sidewise, and not directly back uponitself; see Figure 5. The extent of the lateral component, as related tothe coplanar component, depends upon the angular position of the bankrelative to the coils plane, and in the machine shown in Figures 1 to 6the first bank A is arranged at 45 to the plane of the coil L. It ispreferred that the angle between the direction of the counterbendingforce and the coil plane be never as great as 90, for an angle of 90 inbank A coupled with an angle of 90 in bank Bas will shortly appear morefullywould eliminate any cradling effect, later referred to. In practiceit has been found preferable that an angle of 60 be not exceeded in anybank. As to the minimum angle, that depends upon the certainty or lackof certainty with which the strand can be kept from rotating or tiltingabout its own axis during counterbending. If it could be assured thatthe strand could be held absolutely against rotation, theoretically thecounterbend, if gradual enough, could be directly in the coil plane, andcould be accomplished in one single bank. Since in practice that isimpossible, the counterbending force is directed at such angle to thecoil plane as will assure that the strand will not rotate, nor its coilplane tilt oppositely, and this angle can be the smaller as provision ismade the more certainly to prevent the strands rotation, or conversely,must be made the larger-within the maximum limits discussed above-assuch assurance against rotation is lacking.

It will already be apparent that the next bank B, which is also arrangedas a primary bending bank, should operate upon the strand to bend itsomewhat oppositely to the initial set of the strand, and yet alsosomewhat oppositely to the counterbend produced in the bank A. If thebank A is set at 45, the bank B would be set approximately at 45 to theplane of the loop L, but at the opposite side of the coils plane fromthe bank A. The bends in banks A and B are generally equiangularlydisposed at opposite sides of the initial coil plane, or, in the examplegiven, at 90 one to the other. In the bank B, as in the bank A, thestrand is given a deflection which includes a lateral as well as adirectly opposed component, and thus the wire is bent first to one sideand then to the other of the plane of its coil, and in both instancessomewhat oppositely to its initial set, and yet never is the initial setdirectly opposed nor counterbent. By proper adjustment of these twoprimary bending banks the entire initial set of the strand can beovercome. Moreover, each tends to counteract the strand-rotativetendency of the other, by cradling the strand in the valley theycooperate to form, and hence the net result is to minimize, if not toprevent absolutely, the torsional rotation of the strand about its ownaxis, during counterbend- The banks C and D, however, serve a verynecessary function, namely, to prevent torsional rotation of the strandbeyond and hence within the bank B, and hence to minimize its rotationby the deflection applied to it in each of the primary bending banks Aand B. The banks C and D cooperatively oppose the bends in the banks Aand B, and more especially the rotative effect of bending in the bank B.It is not strictly necessary that each be diametrically opposite one ofthe primary bending banks; they are so shown,

however, for convenience, and because this has been found a satisfactoryway of resisting torsional rotation of the strand. However, differentlyfrom the rather marked and abrupt defiection caused in the banks A andB, the deflection caused in the banks C and D is quite mild, justsufficient that these two banks in conjunction one with another willcradle the strand, as it were, and prevent its torsional rotation aboutits own axis. They eifect no extensive rearrangement of the molecularstructure of the strand, whereas there is an appreciable molecularrearrangement as the wire passes through the banks A and B.

Since it is undesirable to require extremely accurate adjustment of therolls in the banks A and B, nor for that matter in the banks C and D,indeed, pointless, because the strands set varies according to whetherits individual coils come from near the axis or from near the peripheryof the reel whence it is unwound, and an adjustment suited to correctone will underor over-correct for the other, it is considered preferableto adjust them approximately to the correct degree to straighten thewire, having regard, of course, for its gauge or thickness, and then toremove any residual set by passing the strand through a final correctivebank E. In this corrective bank the flange 3B of the individual bank isapertured for rotation, as by mounting it upon a shouldered collar 93held to the brackets 9| by the bolts 94. By tightening down the setscrews 95, the frame 3 of the corrective bank E may be fixed or set, inany rotated position through 360 about the axis of the strand. This bankof rolls is the same in construction and arrangement as the banksalready described, save that its middle roll I is not adjustable incommon with the middle rolls of any other bank, but rather isindividually adjustable by the adjusting screw 22.

After the strand has passed through the banks A, B, C and D, anyresidual set is noted, the bank E is rotated so that its middle roll Iis directly opposite the slight residual set, and the transverseposition of the roll I is adjusted so that it just removes this residualset. This will never require any extensive counterbending, for otherwisemore exact adjustment of the preceding banks is required, and so thestrand may be counterbent directly oppositely to this residual setwithout danger of weakening it.

It will be clear from the drawings that the threading of the wirethrough the machine is a comparatively simple job. It is only necessaryto move the adjusting collar 23 to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, andthis moves all the bending or middle rolls I outwardly into inoperativeposition spaced to the maximum from the rolls ID. The wire is nowthreaded through the bushings 92 and is merely laid in the grooves ofthe rolls [0 and l I and under each roll I until it 9 finally; after thepassage-through th'e successive banks in-this fashion, is drawnthrough"at'the delivery end of the straightener. At first the corrective bank Eis not broughtinto operation. The collar 23 is -then-"moved to theright; orienting the rollscorrectlywith-regard to-the plane of thecoil-L, until a-sufficient counterbend is accomplished "to deliver thewire approximately straight. The corrective bank isthen'brought intooperation, if necessary, and the bending proceeds by pulling or pushingthe wire through by means not shown,-until all the wirehas-been relievedof its initial s'et,;and issues-substantially straight.

It is to be.notedherethat with the coil plane as shown at L .inFigure-6, the force applied by the banks .A and :B is in 'general opposite tothis initial set, and the forceapplied in-the banks-C and D, which is inthe: same general direction as .this set, is much .less, a;sr'epresented by the-difference in length of thearrows. The force appliedat thecorrective b'a'nkiEmay be appreciably less than in any of'theprece'd'ing banks, and may be at any point 360 about the strands aXia-asindicated by the arrow E. iHowever, shouldthe plane of the 'coil be notupright, as viewed in Figure 6, but horizontaL'it would beincorrecttoattempt to effect thezprimarybending by-the banks A and B, for thenone of these banks would only tend to bend the strandiin the senseit isalready bent. Instead, -the primary bending would be accomplished insuch a case :by the cooperative action of the-banksA and D, or B and C,depending upon whether the'coil'lies'to the left or to the right asviewed in Figure-6 from the delivery end. It is for the purpose ofenabling adjustment of the extent of deflection accomplished in theindividual banks, so that two primary bending banks cooperate to-:cra'dle'the strand, and two torsion-resisting banks (when two'are used)similarly cooperate to cradle the strand, that each lever 2 isindividually adjus'table by reason of the connection between its rod 2!and the common disc 23. The device will operate equally well whether theprimary bending be accomplished in two immediately succeeding banks, orin banks which are spaced apart by an intervening torsion-resistingbank.

As will now be apparent, the 90-spaoing of the banks A, B, C, and D,which is illustrated in the figures so far discussed, is not essential.It is desirable that the two primary bending banks be substantiallyequiangularly disposed at pposed sides of the coil plane, and that theyoperate upon the strand through some angle less than 180, in order thatthere may be a component which is'opposed to the initial set, as well asa lateral component. Likewise, while in'some instances it may bedesirable *that'the resistance to torsion be accomplished by passagethrough two partially opposed banks, such is not necessarily the case inall instances, as has already been pointed out.

In Figures 7 and 8 an arrangement has "been shown in which there are butthree banks n, B and C in the principal part of themachina supple'mented by one additional corrective bank 'E, which latter may be thesameas previously described. The banks A', B and 'C are substantiallythe same as the banks previously described, except in two particularsthe adjustment of the middle roll in each such bank independent or theadjustment of the corresponding roll in the other banks, and each suchbank i's 'moun tedffor rotation about the of thew' ire pathindependentlyof such adjustment of the othr'banlis.

Somewhatdifferently expressed, the machineiof Figure 7 is composedof'four banks all 'similarto the corrective bank E, but in whichthefirst three banks A, B andC arenormally=di sposed, 'in theillustrative form herein, at about toon'e another,-though independentlyrotationally adjustable, and only the bank when used, isintendednormally to be rotated to anypointat 360 about the axis ofthe wire path.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, it will be seen that the banks A andB"are arranged with respect'to the plane of the coil, indicated at L-inFigure 10, so that there is an opposed or counterbending-component, butalso a very considerable lateral component, impressed'uponthe strandasit is pulled through these banks -A' and B and it will'be noted-alsothat they are -so arranged as to lie equiangularly at opposite sides ofthe plane of the loop L. However, instead or 't'wo torsion-resistingbanks there is but a single bank 0, the force'of which (see Figure 10)lesser than'the substantially equal forces 'applied byftlfe respectivebanks A and B, and this has been found adequate to resist the torsion in*such a machine. The corrective bank E, rotatable about theaxis ofthestrand, removes any residual-set,

and, of course, any of thebanks AZ-B and C" can be, if desired,rotated-about'theaxis of the s't'rand to alter the direction ofapplication-of the counterbendin g forces. 7

The flexure of the strand first, even though slightly, in the directiontending to increase its initial set, as it passes over the largeentrance roll I l of'each-primary'bending bank. Thiseffect is increasedas the strand passes-hext ovr '{the smaller roll Ht, but immediatelyit-is reversely bent, and ratherabruptly, in 'passingbeneath the smallroll I, and thence up and over the-roll lo. Again its-direction of bendis gently reversed as it passes out over the latter and the larger finalroll H. Such effect as may be produced by the initial flexure in thegeneral direction of its initial set, if thereis-an ysu'ch effect, is aloosening of the internalmolecular arrangement, and consequentpreparation thereof for the mo'r'e abrupt reversal which follows. Yet,because the reversal is in part lateral, it rearranges the i'nternaImolecular relationships without. such violent crowding-"of themtogether, at the compression side of such reverse bend, and without suchforcible rending of thein apar't at the tension side there-- of,-a'swould-occur were the reverse bend directly opposite to the initial set."Thegre'atest stresses are applied to previously unstressedor butlightly stressed zones of the strands cross-section, and its previouslystressed zones lie to a considerable degree in the neutral "zone of thereverse bend. In consequence, the flexures, oombinedyeffectadequatemolecular rearrangement, without min'ute multiple ruptures to weakenthestrand.

The two cooperative primary bending rolls may be thought of as cradlingthe unreeling coil from opposite sides, and if one such roll tends torotate the plane of the 0611 "about the strands axis in one direction,the companion roll tends equally to rotate the coils plane in theopposite direction, hence each roll tends to counteract the other.Actually, and because they operate su'ccessively and not simultaneouslyupon any given portion of the strand, this counteraction of the twoprimary bending rolls is not alone sufiicient, in most cases, to preventrotation of the strand about its own axis, and that is why the torsi'om7 resisting rolls are employed. The coil-rotating tendency of each suchtorsion-resisting roll is slight, and is resisted by the oppositetendency of the other such roll, when two are used, and by the oppositetendency of one of the primary bending rolls. The coil, then, is cradledfrom opposite sides by the two primary bending rolls, which by theircooperation tend to prevent rotation of the coils plane in eitherdirection, and the coil may be further cradled in the same fashion bytwo opposed torsion-resisting rolls. In similar fashion the coil may bethought of as cradled between each primary bending roll and theoppositely (or an angular) directed torsion-resisting roll.

The primary consideration in this invention lies in the orientation ofthe bending forces relative toat opposite sides ofthe plane of thestrands coil. This assures that each will counteract the tendency of theother to rotate the strand, and assures uniformity of counterbending. Itis not sufficient merely to bend the strand in any two different planeschosen at random; each of those planes must be oriented correctly withrelation to, and in general equiangularly at opposite sides of, theinitial coil plane. Since the latter result can only be obtaineddependably when the strand is prevented from rotating, a secondaryconsideration herein lies in so preventing rotation by suitable means,as by the expedient of cradling the strand between the cooperativebending banks, and between the tersion-resisting banks cooperative withone another or with a bending bank. A third consideration herein lies inthe avoidance of unduly abrupt bends in the large, stifi strand, withconsequent weakening thereof.

I claim as my invention:

l. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises advancing thewire strand through a path which is centered upon the strands axis,guiding the strand at spaced points along its path and in its axis,deflecting the strand, intermediate adjacent guide points, from suchaxis and back to the same, two of such deflections being opposite to thestrands initial set but in planes generally equiangularly disposed atopposite sides of the coil plane, meanwhile restraining the wire strandagainst rotation about its axis.

2. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises pulling thewire strand through a path which is centered upon the strands axis,guiding the strand, at points spaced along such path and lying in suchaxis, deflecting the strand, intermediate adjacent guide points, fromsuch axis and back to the same, two of such deflections being oppositeto the strands initial set but in planes generally equiangularlydisposed at opposite sides of the coil plane, at least one furtherdeflection being lesser in amount than and generally opposite to theoffset of the aforesaid deflections, to resist rotation of the strandabout its axis.

3. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises pulling thewire strand through a path which is centered upon the strands axis,guiding the strand, at points spaced along such path and lying in suchaxis, deflecting the strand, intermediate adjacent guide points, fromsuch axis and back to the same, two of such deflections being oppositeto the strands initial set but in planes generally equiangularlydisposed at opposite sides of the coil plane, two further deflectionsbeing lesser in amount than and directed in planes generally coincidentwith but all) 12 in directions opposite to the respective aforesaiddeflections, to resist the tendency of the strand to rotate about itsaxis under the influence of the aforesaid deflections.

4. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises pulling thewire strand through a path which is centered upon the strands axis,guiding the strand, at points spaced along such path and lying in suchaxis, deflecting the strand, intermediate adjacent guide points, fromsuch axis and back to the same, two of such deflections being oppositeto the strands initial set but in planes generally equiangularlydisposed at opposite sides of the coil plane, meanwhile restraining thewire strand, by deflection intermediate certain other of said guidepoints, against rotation about its axis, and in immediate successionsimilarly offsetting the strand in such selected plane about its axisand to such selected degree as is required to remove any residual set.

5. The method of claim 3, characterized in the disposition of the planesof the two deflections therein specified at approximately to oneanother.

6. The method of claim 3, characterized in the disposition of the planesof the two deflections therein specified at approximately 90 to oneanother, and further characterized in that the strand in its passage isfurther deflected, by lesser amounts, in planes generally coincidentwith but in directions opposite to the respective first-mentionedoffsets.

'7. The method of claim 3, characterized in the disposition of theplanes of the two deflections therein specified at approximately to oneanother, and further characterized in that the strand in its passage isfurther deflected, by a lesser amount, in the plane of the coil and inthe direction of its initial set.

8. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises unreeling thewire strand by pulling upon it, and as it unreels bending it oppositelyto its initial set but in a plane at an angle to the plane of its coil,and then bending it again, oppositely to its initial set but in a planeat the opposite side, from the first bending, of the plane of its coil.

9. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises unreeling thewire strand by pulling upon it, and as it unreels bending it oppositelyto its initial set but in a plane at an angle to the plane of its coil,and then bending it again, oppositely to its initial set but in a planeat the opposite side, from the first bending, of the plane of its coil,meanwhile applying a force to the unreeling strand generally opposingthe forces accomplishing the aforesaid bending, to restrain the strandsbend-induced tendency to rotate about its axis.

10. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises unreelingthe wire strand by pulling upon it, and as it unreels bending itoppositely to its initial set but in a plane at an angle to the plane ofits coil, and then bending it again, oppositely to its initial set butin a plane at the opposite side, from the first bending, of the plane ofits coil, meanwhile applying a force to the unreeling strand generallyopposing the forces accomplishing the aforesaid bending, to restrain thestrands bend-induced tendency to rotate about its axis, and thereafterbending the unreeling strand in such plane about its axis, and to suchdegree, as may be required to counteract any residual set.

11. A wire straightener comprising the plurality of banks of wireguides, each bank including at least three guides all in a common plane,the first and last guides in each bank constituting terminal guides, andbeing disposed along a central path common to all banks, the middleguide in each bank being arranged to deflect the wire strand, as itpasses, from the centralpath defined by the several terminal guides, andthe several banks being arranged along such path and in different planesradially about that path, two of such banks, constituting the primarybending banks, being arranged angularly less than 180 relative one tothe other, and to lie approximately equiangularly at opposite sides ofthe plane of the strands coil, and each for deflection of the strandgenerally but not directly oppositely to its initial set.

12. A wire straightener comprising a plurality of .aligned banks ofgrooved Wire-guiding rolls, each bank including at least three rolls allin a common plane, the first and last rolls in each bank constitutingterminal guides, and being disposed along a central path common to allbanks, the middle roll in each bank being arranged to deflect the wirestrand, as it passes, from such central path defined by the severalterminal rolls, and the several banks being arranged along such path andin different planes radially about that path, two of said banks,constituting the primary bending banks, being arranged angularly lessthan 180 one relative to the other, and to lie approximatelyequiangularly at opposite sides of the plane of the strands coil,.and'each for deflection of the strand generally but not directlyoppositely to its initial set.

13. A wire straightener comprising a plurality of aligned banks ofgrooved wire-guiding rolls, each bank including at least three rolls allin a common plane, the first and last guides in each bank constitutingterminalguides, and being disposed along a central path common to allbanks, the middle roll in each bank being arranged to deflect the wirestrand, as it passes, from the central path defined by the severalterminal rolls, the several banks being arranged along such path and indifferent planes radially about that path, two of said banks,constituting the primary bending banks, being arranged angularly lessthan 180 one relative to the other, and to lie approximatelyequiangularly at opposite sides of the plane of the strands 10011, andeach for deflection of the strand generally but not directly oppositelyto its initial set, and means to adjust the position of each deflectingroll transversely of the central strand path.

14. A wire straightener comprising a plurality of aligned banks ofgrooved Wire-guiding rolls, each bank including at least three rolls allin a common plane, the first and last guides in each bank constitutingterminal guides, and being disposed along a central path common to allbanks, the middle roll in each bank being arranged to deflect the wirestrand, as it passes, from the central path defined by the severalterminal rolls, the several banks being arranged along such path and indiiferent planes radially about that path, two of said banks,constituting the primary bending banks, being arranged angularly lessthan 180 one relative to the other, and to lie approximatelyequiangularly at opposite sides of the plane of the strands coil, andeach for deflection of the strand generally but not directly oppositelyto its initial set, means in each bank to adjust the position of eachdeflecting roll means common to all banks for simultaneously ,and in thecorresponding ,sense adjusting the position of the deflecting rollsinalhbanks.

15. A wire straightener comprising a plurality of banks of wireguideseach bank including at least'three guides all in a common plane,the first and last guides ineach bank constituting terminal guides, andbeingdisposedalong.acentral pathcommon togall banks, the middle guide ineach bank being arranged to deflect the wire strand, .as it passes,from'the central-pathdefined bythe several terminal guides, theseveralbanks being arranged. along such ;path. and in different planesradially about that path, two of such banks, constituting the primarybending banks, being arranged angularly less than 18,09relative one tothe other, and to lie approximately equiangularly at opposite sides ofthe .plane of the strands coil, and each for deflection of theistrandgenerallybut not directly oppositely to .its initial set,; and at leastone bank arrangedto resist rotation of the strand about its own'axis,under the influence of the partially'sidewise deflection of one or bothsaid primary bending banks.

16. A wire straightener,comprisingiaplurality of aligned banks ofgrooved wire-guiding rolls, each bank including ,at least three rollsall in a common plane, the first, and last guidesinea'chbankconstituting terminal guides, and beingdisposed along a central pathcommon to .all banks, the middle roll in each bankibeing arranged todeflect the wire strand, as it passes, from the central path defined :bythe several terminal rolls, the several-banks being arranged alongsuchpath and in different planes radially about that path, two ofsaid'banks, constituting the primary bending-banks,being.arrangedangularly less than-l one relative to theother, and tolie'approximately,equiangularly at opposite sides of the plane of thestrands coil, and each 'for deflection of the strand generally but notdirectly oppositely to its initial set, and at least one bank arrangedto deflect the strand generally oppositely to, but to a lesser degreethan, the deflection produced by one or both said primaryzbending banks.

117. ,A wire straightener comprising a plurality of banks of wireguides, each bank including at least three guides all in acommonplane,the first and last guides in each bank constituting terminalguides, and being disposed along acentral path common to all banks, themiddle guide in each bank being arranged to deflect-the-wire strand, asit passes, from the central path defined by theseveral terminal guides,and the several banks being arranged along such path and in diiferentplanes radially about that path, two of such banks, constituting theprimary bending banks, being arranged angularly less than relative oneto the other, and to lie approximately equian gularly at opposite sidesof the plane of the strands coil, and each for deflection of the strandgenerally but not directly oppositely to itsinitial set, a final banksimilar to the others,

and means mounting said final bank for rotation to any degree about thestrands axis forcounteractingany residual set in the strand.

18. A wire straightener comprising a plurality of banks of wire guides,each bank including at least three guides all in a common plane, thefirst and last guides in each bank constituting terminal guides, andbeing disposed along acen- 75 tral path common to all banks, the middleguide each bank being arranged to deflect the wire strand, as it passes,from the central path defined by the several terminal guides, and theseveral banks being arranged along such path and in different planesradially about that path, two of such banks, constituting the primarybending banks, being arranged angularly less than 180 relative one tothe other, and to lie approximately equiangularly at opposite sides ofthe plane of the strands coil, and each for deflection of the strandgenerally but not directly oppositely to its initial set, a final banksimilar to the others, means mounting said final bank for rotation toany degree about the strands axis for counteracting any residual set inthe strand, and means to vary the degree of deflection of the strand inits passage through said final bank.

19. A wire straightener as in claim 11, characterized in that the twoprimary bending banks are disposed relatively at 90 one to the other,and further characterized in the provision of at least two additionalbanks, each being arranged generally oppositely to a diflerent one ofthe primary bending banks.

20. A wire straightener as in claim 11, characterized in that the twoprimary bending banks are disposed relatively at 90 one to the other,and further characterized in the provision of at least two additionalbanks, each being arranged generally oppositely to a different one ofthe primary bending banks, and a final bank mounted for rotation aboutthe strands path, and means to fix said final bank in any rotatedposition necessary to remove any residual set in the strand.

21. A wire straightener as in claim 11, characterized in that the twoprimary bending banks are disposed relatively at about 120 one to theother, and characterized further by the provision of an additionaltorsion-resisting bank arranged relatively at about 120 to each of thetwo primary bending banks.

22. A wire straightener as in claim 11, characterized in the provisionof at least one bank in addition to the two primary bending banks, thedeflecting guide in said additional bank or banks being arranged forless forceful deflection of the strand, and means mounting each bank forrotation about the central path, to vary the plane of the individualdeflections.

23. A wire straightener as in claim 12, characterized in the provisionof five rolls in each bank, the two terminal rolls being of large radiusand defining, with the terminal rolls of other banks, the central strandpath, and including two inner rolls of small radius spaced apart at thesame side of the strand as the terminal rolls, and offset from suchpath, in addition to the middle roll, of small radius, interposedbetween the two inner rolls, and disposed at the opposite side of thestrand.

24. A wire straightener as in claim 12, characterized in the provisionof five rolls in each bank, the two terminal rolls being of large radiusand defining, with the terminal rolls of other banks, the central strandpath, and including two inner rolls of small radius spaced apart at thesame side of the strand as the terminal rolls, and ofiset from suchpath, in addition to the middle roll, of small radius, interposedbetween the two inner rolls, and disposed at the opposite side of thestrand, and means to adjust said middle roll, only, in each bank,transversely of said two small inner rolls.

25. In a wire straightener, a Wire bending bank comprising a frame, twogrooved, coplanar, ter-' minal rolls defining a wire strand path leadingto and from the bank, two spaced-apart inner rolls, coplanar with theterminal rolls, and offset to the same side of such path, a middle rollcoplanar with but at the side of the strand opposite the other rolls, alever fulcrumed at a point offset from the axis of the middle roll, saidmiddle roll being mounted upon said lever, and means to rock said leverto interpose said middle roll more or less between said two inner rolls,to vary the extent of deflection of the strand effected by its passageover said middle roll.

26. In a wire straightener, a wire bending bank comprising a frame, twogrooved, coplanar, terminal rolls defining a wire strand path leading toand from the bank, two spaced-apart inner rolls, coplanar with theterminal rolls, and offset to the same side of such path, a middle rollcoplanar with but at the side of the strand opposite the other rolls,means to guide and adjust said middle roll along a transverse pathintermediate said two inner rolls, to vary the extent of deflection ofthe'strand effected by its passage over said middle roll, and meansmounting said frame for rotation to a plurality of adjusted positionsangularly about such wire strand path.

27. In a wire straightener, a wire bending bank comprising a frame, twogrooved, coplanar, terminal rolls of larger radius journaled therein anddefining a wire strand path leading to and from the bank, twospaced-apart inner rolls also journaled in the frame, of smaller radiusthan said terminal rolls and offset from and at the same side of suchpath as the latter, and a middle roll of radius similar to that of theinner rolls, coplanar with but at the side of the strand opposite theother rolls, disposed intermediate said inner rolls to deflect thestrand oppositely to its bend in passing over said other rolls.

28. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises pulling thestrand along a longitudinal path, in passage effecting an abruptdeflection having both lateral and reverse components relative to thecoils plane and curvature of set, respectively, and at a longitudinallyspaced point in such path similarly effecting deflection having areverse component relative to the coils curvature of set, but anopposite lateral component relative to the coils plane.

29. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises pulling thestrand along a longitudinal path, at one point in such path, and as thestrand passes such point, eflecting an abrupt deflection having alateral component relative to the coils plane and a reverse componentrelative to the coils curvature of set, at another point in such pathefifecting a similarly abrupt deflection having a similar reversecomponent relative to the coils curvature of set, but having an oppositeand approximately equal component laterally of the coils plane.

30. The method of straightening coiled wire which comprises pulling thestrand along a longitudinal path, at points spaced along such path, andas the strand passes such points, effecting an abrupt deflection havinga lateral component relative to the coils plane and a reverse componentrelative to the coils curvature of set, at another point effecting asimilarly abrupt deflection having a similar reverse component relativeto the coils curvature of set, but having an opposite and approximatelyequal component laterally of the coils plane, at another point effectinga deflection having a component in the same Number direction as thecoils curvature of set, but less 380,664 abrupt than the previouslymentioned deflections. 894,971 1,239,175 RICHARD D. HELLER. 1,414,3711,740,050 REFERENCES CITED 1,817,707 The following references are ofrecord in the 138241568 file 01 this patent: 1 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS1: Number Name Date 2,347,904 48,608 Washbum July 4, 1865 2,355,448226,175 Kenerson Apr. 6, 1880 2,369,234 338,244 Briggs Mar. 23. 1886 152,462,396

18 Name Bate Searles Apr. 3, 1888 Mir-field Aug. 4, 1908 Gilbert Sept.4, 1917 Wilson May 2, 1922 Van Lue Dec. 17, 1929 Rees Aug. 4, 1931Pierce Sept. 22, 1931 Nigro June 20, 1933 Hallden Apr. 10, 1934 MasonAug. 18, 1942 Greulich May 2, 1944 Kratz Aug. 8, 1944 Illmer Feb. 13,1945 Heller Feb. 22, 1949

